In this episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Soliva welcomes Navy veteran and founder of Talents ASCEND, Robyn Grable, to the show. Their conversation covers Robyn's military journey, challenges faced by veterans transitioning to civilian life, and the importance of networking. Listen in as Robyn shares her inspiration behind Talents Ascend, a platform connecting veterans, military spouses, and the disabled community with employment opportunities, and emphasizes the need to challenge job market misconceptions. Join us for an intimate discussion about leveraging unique veteran skills, netw ..read more

In this episode of Veteran Voices, Navy veteran and pilot Gabe Soltero joins host Mary Kate Soliva and shares his journey from military service to civilian life. He discusses his upbringing, Navy experiences, and the challenges of transitioning, emphasizing the importance of family support, networking, and utilizing veteran service organizations during this transition. Now working at Home Depot, he helps veterans find opportunities and champions veteran causes. Listen in as Gabe and Mary Kate highlight the significance of community support and provide valuable insights for veterans navigating ..read more

In this new, candid episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Soliva welcomes listeners to a conversation brimming with personal narratives and invaluable insights. As the episode unfolds, guest Kevin Horgan, shares the rich tapestry of his life, unveiling the profound impact of his Marine Corps journey on his identity and subsequent civilian career. Through anecdotes and reflections, Kevin shares his story—a narrative woven with moments of resilience, self-discovery, and the ever-evolving pursuit of purpose. From his humble beginnings in New Jersey to the pivotal decision to join the Marine C ..read more

Every Veteran Voices episode delves into the inspiring stories of individuals who have served their country and are now making a difference beyond the uniform, but few stories are as powerful and uplifting as that of John Wayne Walding. John Wayne lost his leg to a sniper during battle in the mountains of Afghanistan, only to continue fighting, become the first amputee to become a Green Beret Sniper, and later found his own logistics company dedicated to overcoming and delivering on the impossible. In today's episode, sponsored by Pegasus Logistics Group, host Mary Kate Soliva, along with spec ..read more

Sometimes the transition from military service to civilian life happens gradually over time. In other cases, it happens in an instant. Neither path is necessarily easy, but maintaining a sense of purpose is key to successfully finding a new path in life. Alex Ortiz is a 1L law student at the Inter-American University of Puerto Rico School of Law, a 2022 VFW-SVA Legislative Fellow, and a 2022 SVA Student Veteran of the year finalist. Before starting his legal studies, he served as a wheel vehicle mechanic while on deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division. In this inter ..read more

Nothing demonstrates the importance of building a mission-driven cohesive team culture like spending time in the military. On a Naval ship, people from different ranks, different backgrounds, and even civilians all have to come together and learn to collaborate to achieve stated goals. They must all learn to adapt and overcome. Alicia Washkevich led logistics with the Expeditionary Action Group One, foreign militaries, and the United Nations for anti-piracy and security operations during the Global War on Terrorism. She was awarded the Navy’s Commendation Medal for coordinating aid given to 21 ..read more

There are some common traits shared by most people fighting anxiety and depression or struggling with thoughts of suicide. And while the awareness and understanding of mental health issues have both improved, many of the solutions that are in place today don’t make the required difference for people who need help right now. Matthew Brown earned his degree from the US Naval Academy in 2005. He went on to serve as the captain of USS SCOUT (MCM-8) and as part of US Navy SEAL TEAM 17, as a strategic studies Fellow for the Chief of Naval Operations, as aide-de-camp for Strategy & Policy at US J ..read more

Successfully transitioning from the military to civilian life is a journey. It also takes a lot of conscious effort, hard conversations, and active opportunities to reconnect with the military community. Bruce Thompson is a Retired Marine Corps Master Sergeant who spent his 23 years of service working as a human resource manager, logistics manager, communication electronics technician, and in maintenance management, where he oversaw all communication electronics maintenance for an organization of over 1,000 employees spread across 7 companies. Today he helps transitioning service members, vete ..read more

In over 70 episodes, Veteran Voices has heard a lot of reasons for people joining the military or picking a particular branch of service. In this episode we hear a brand new one… advice from one’s future father-in-law. In Brian Russel’s case, it was a win-win (win). Brian recently retired after serving 27 years in the United States Marine Corps – an impressive feat to be sure. Brian is also an avid mountain biker, and that’s where his advice to “keep the rubber side down” comes from. Even in adventurous situations, he reminds us that it is important to stay safe and keep yourself on track. In ..read more

Navy Veteran David Trenholm inherited two things from his family that ultimately helped him succeed. One was a solid blue-collar work ethic and the other was a multi-generation tradition of service in the United States Navy. David served in the Navy for over 20 years, but his service did not end with that phase of his life. Today he is an Assistant Vice President at Bank of America and sits on the board of Directors with Operation New Uniform where he helps new Veterans find careers in the private sector. In this interview, David speaks with host Mary Kate Soliva about: • How his path from enl ..read more